Binder.



Nb. 867,706. PATENTED OCT. 8, 1907. RJ. GOPELAND & A. E.l GHATTERSON.BINDER.

' Arrmorrlon FILED un. 21., 190s.

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?1IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII #MINIMUM ATTORNEY No. 867,706. PATENTED OCT. 8,1907. R. J. COPELAND &'A,. E. CHATTERSON.

BIN DEB.. APPLIOATIQN rILnn 511.11.21, 1905.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT J. COPELAND AND ALBERT E. OHATTERSON, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO,CANADA.

BINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oct. s, i907.

Application filed January 21,1905. Serial No. 242,058.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT J. COPELAND, a citizen of the United States,and ALBERT E. OHATTERsoN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, andboth residents of Toronto, Dominion of Canada, and whose postofliceaddress is No. 75 Queen street, West, in said city, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Binders, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to binders and more particularly such as aredesigned for use as loose-leaf ledgers.

The invention relates more especially to the locking devices andconsists of the features hereinafter set forth. In the accompanyingdrawings forming part of this specification the various features of theinvention are illustrated in their preferred form, like referencenumerals designating corresponding parts in the various figures.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the binder showing the upper and lowerstrips thereof separated to the limit, one cover being removed and theother cover being partly broken away. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectiontaken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and showing a portion of one of the sheetsin dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a vertical sec- I Fig. 4 is a verticalsection through line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan view o f part ofthe upper strip of the binder. Fig. 6 is a vertical section through line6 6 of Fig. 1. Fig. -7 is a bottom plan view of the key plate andattached parts associated with the removable post. Fig. 8 is anelevation partly in section showing a detail of the binder lock.

Referring now to the specific construction and arrangement of thevarious features asshown in the drawings; 1 and 2 are the upper andlower strips of the binder between which the sheets 3 are secured.,These sheets have open holes, 4, 5, 6, and 7 which respec' tively,engage the posts 8, 9, 10, and 11. These posts are extensible and havetheir opposite ends fixed to the opposite strips'as shown. The coverssuch as 12 and 13 are hinged to the upper and lower strips. These strips1 and 2 are L-shaped in cross section and the space between the rearportions of these strips is covered by a back 14.

15 and 16 are two extensible posts fixed to the upper and lower stripsand each containing an internal spring such as 17, said springsoperating to press the strips apart. The back 14 is held in positionwith reference to these strips by certain extensible connections, now tobe described. i

The back is made of sheet metal and is provided with tubular guides 18,19, 20 and 21.

22 is a rod or block which slides in the guides 18 and 19 and carriesthe joint of a toggle. This toggle consists of the cross piece 23, fixedto the block` 22, and the arms 24 and 25 pivoted to the cross piece 23and to the upper and lower strips of the binder.'-

26 is the block or rod similar to the block 22 and sliding in the guides20 and 21. This block carries a toggle whose parts 27, 28 and 29 aresimilar in arrangement and connection to the toggle 23, 24, and 25. Theupper and lower binding strips are preferably made of cast metal.

30 is the lock casing east on the upper binding strip.l

This lock casing is formed, with two channels 31 and 32, in which workthe rack posts 33 and 34 fixed to the lower strip 2. h

35 andv36 are two gears carried on the lock casing and which mesh witheach other and also with the rack posts 33 and 34, respectively.

37 is a reciprocating latch provided with a finger or detent 38 arrangedto engage thev teeth of both gears. This latch is provided with a cam 39at its upper end and is held in place by the block 40 secured to thelock casing and having a recess to receive the latch; one wall of thisrecess is shown by dotted lines on Fig. 8.

41 is a spring whose lower end engages the detent 38 and tends to holdthe latch in its upper position with the detent 38 in engagement withthe teeth of the gears 35 and 36. The upper end of the spring 41 is heldin place by the block 40.

42'is a rotatable piece, the lower end of which rests in a bearing inthe block 40 and the upper end of which extends into an opening in theupper strip. The upper end of this piece 42 is adapted to receive and berotated by a key 43 which enters a key-hole in the upper strip. Thisrotatable piece 42 carries a pin 44 designed to engage the cam 39 of thelatch 37 and thereby move the latch downward against the spring 41 so asto disengage the detent 38 from the gears 35 and 36 and thereby unlockthe binder.

45 is a pin on the latch 37 which works in a recess 46 on the back ofthe lock casing 30 and limits the downward movement of the latch andthus prevents the pin 44 from being turned so far as to run off the Cam39.

The sheets 3 are provided with closed holes 47 which engage a removablepost 48 extending between the strips and through an aperture 49 in theupper strip. The post 48 is extensible and contains an internal spring50 which tends to extend the post. ln the head of the post 48 is agroove 51, the purpose of which will be presently explained.

52 'is an escutcheon which is secured to the upper strip 1. Thisescutcheofi 52 is made of two thin metal plates 53 and 5'4 securedtogether so as to leave'a shallow Space between them. In this spaceslides the reciprocating plate 55 adapted to enter the groove 5l of theremovable post 48, when the latter is in position, and lock the post inplace.

56 is a spring, one end ot which is secured to the under side of theplate 54, and the other end of which projects through an opening 57 inthis plate and is secured to the pin 58 on the plate 55. The spring 56tends to retract the plate 55 and thereby disengage it from the post 4S.

59 is a spring, one end of which is secured on the u'nder side oi theplate 54. This spring passes near the key-hole of the escutcheon and hasits free end bent over to engage with a finger 60 on the plate 55. Whenthe key 43 is entered in the latch and turned, it rotates the piece 42thereby'disengaging the latch 37 from the gears 35 and 3G. In moving thekey also presses against the spring 59 thereby disengaging its iree endfrom the finger 60 of the plate 55. The spring 5G thereupon retracts theplate 55 as far as the key will permit, and when the key is withdrawnthe plate 55 is retracted all the way back. This releases the post 48 sothat sheets may be withdrawn from or inserted in the binder. When theremovable post 48 is re-inserted the plate 55 is drawn forward bypressing against the lip (i9 which projects through the opening in theescutcheon plate 53 so as to engage the groove 5l of said post. When theplate 55 has been drawn forward the finger G0 is again engaged by thespring 59 so that said plate is again locked in this position and theremovable post locked in place.

68is a small coiled spring in the block 40 acting to press upward therotatable piece 42 and thus prevent the latter irom rotating by suddenjar and forcing the latch 37 downward and so unlock the binder.

It will be understood of course that when the binder is unlocked thesprings 17 move the strips l and 2 apart and that during this movementthe removable post 48 is extended by its spring 50. It will also beobserved that the latch 37 oi the binder lock acts to prevent thebackward rotation of the gears 35 and 3G. That is to say, it preventsthe rotation of these gears in that direction in which they must movewhen the strips separate. The rotation of the gears in the opposite orforward direction is not prevented by the latch 37, a tooth of first onegear and then the tooth of the other gear pressing the detent 5 8 oi thelatch downward out of the way against the spring 4l. Thus after thebinder has been unlocked and the strips l and 2 separated the key may bewithdrawn. The strips may thereafter be pressed together as far asdesired without operating the lock of the binder by the key. As thestrips are moved together they are automatically locked againstseparation at every stage of their approach toward each other, It willalso be observed that by the employment of a rack post carried by onestrip and a gear meshing therewith and carried by the other strip andassociated with means to prevent the backward rotation of the gear, astrong, durable lock is provided.

While it is preferred to employ two gears meshing with two rack posts asabove set orth and while it is preferred to have these two gears meshwith each other, as described, these two latter features may be omittedwithout departing from the scope of the invention.

' vcntion.

1. In a binderthe combination of upper and lower strips movable to andfrom cach other; a raek post carried by one strip; a gear carried by theother strip meshing with said rack post and ro itable by said rack post.in a forward direction when the strips are pressed towards each other;and means for automaticallyv locking each tooth ot' the gear againstbackward rotation at each step ot' its forward rotation.

2. In a binder thc combination ot' upper and lower strips movable to andfrom each other; :i rack post carried by one strip; a gear meshing withsaid rack post and carried by the other strip; and key operated meansautomatically engaging' the gear at each step of its forward rotation|`or locking the gear against; backward rotation whereby when the gearis locked the strips are locked against. separation.

2'. In a binder, the combination of upper and lower strips; movable toand from each other; a rack post carried b v one strip; a gear meshingwith said rack post. and carried bv the other strip and a key operatedspring latch automatically engaging the ge; e :h step ot' its forwardrotation for locking the gear against backward rotut ion.

l. In a binder, the combination of upper and lower strips movable to andfrom each other; a rack post ear ried b v one strip; a gear meshing withsaid rack post and carried by the other strip; and rotatable by saidrack post, in a forward direction when the strips are pressed towardeach other and a reciprocating key operated latch automat icallyengaging the gear at each step of its forward rota tion for locking thegear against; backward rotation.

5. In a binder, the (,-ombination of upper and lower strips movable toand from each other; a raek post cor ricd by one strip a gear meshingwith said raek post and carried b v the other strip; a latchautomatically engl the gear at each. step of its forward rotation forloctmg the gear against backward rotation, said latch having a cam; anda key rotated piece to engag i said am and operate the latch.

(i. In a binder, the combination of upper and lower strips movable toand from each other; a rack post earricd by one strip; a gearmeshing-with said rack post and carried by the other strip; areciprocating spring lateh automatically engaging the ge: at each stepo1` its t'orwa rd rotation for locking the gear against: backwardrotation. said latch having a cam; and a key rotated piece to engagesaid cam and operate the latch.

7. In a binder the combination of upper and lower strips movable to andfrom each other; two racks carried hy one strip; two gears carried bythe other strip and meshing each with a rack; and a latch to engage theteeth o1' both gears and thereby lock them against backward rotation.

S. In a binder, the combination o1` upper and strips movable to and fromeach other; two racks carried by one strip; two gears carried by theother strip and meshing together and also each with a rack; and a latchto engage the teeth of both gears and thereby lock them against backwardrotation,4

t). In a binder, the combination o1' upper and lower strips movable toand from each other; two racks carried by one strip; two gears carriedby the other strip and meshing each with a rack; and a reciln'ocatingkey oper ated spring latch to engage the teeth ot both gears and therebylock them against backward rotation.

10. In a binder the combination of upper and lower strips movable to andfrom each other; two racks carried by one strip; two gears carried bythe other strip and meshing each with a rack a reciprocating latch toengage the teeth of both gears and thereby lock them against. backwardrotation, said latch having a cam; and a, key rotated piece to engagesaid cam and operate the latch.

l1. In a binder the combination ot' upper' and lower strips movable toand from each other; two racks carried lower by one strip; two gearscarried by the other strip and meshing together and also each with arack; a reciprocating latch to engage the teeth of both gears andthereby lock them against backward rotation, said latch having a cam;and a key rotated piece to engage said cam and operate the latch.

12. In a binder, the combination of upper and lower strips; a lock forthe binder; a removable post extending between the strips and throughthe upper strip; and a plate carried by the upper strip arranged toengage and release said post, said plate being mechanically separate anddisconnected from the binder lock and independently operable. y

13. In a binder, the combination of upper and lower strips; a lock forthe binder; a removable post extending between the strips and throughthe upper strip; and a reciprocating plate carried by the upper striparranged to engage and release said post, said plate being mechanicallyseparate and disconnected from the binder lock and independentlyoperable.

14. In a binder, the combination of upper and lower strips; a lock forthe binder; a removable post extending between the strips and throughthe upper strip; and a plate carried by the upper strip arranged toengage and re` lease said post, said plate being mechanicallydisconnected from the binder lock; and a key operated latch for saidplate.

15. In a binder the combination of upper and lower strips; a lock forthe binder; a removable post extending between the strips and throughthe upper strip; and a spring retracted reciprocating plate carried bythe upper strip and arranged to engage and release said post, said platebeing mechanically disconnected from the binder lock.

1G. ln a binder, the combination of`upper and lower strips; a lock forthe binder; a removable post extending between the strips and throughthe upper strip; and a spring retracted reciprocating plate carried bythe upper strip arranged to engage and release said post, said platebeing mechanically disconnected from the binder lock; and a key operatedlatch for said plate.

17. In a binder the combination of upper and lower strips movable to andfrom each other; a rack post car ried by one strip; a gear carried bythe other strip meshing with said rack post and rotatable in a forwarddirection when the strips are pressed towards each other; areciprocating spring latch to engage the teeth of said gear and preventits rotation in a backward direction; said latch having a cam; and a keyoperated and axially mounted cylindrical cam piece provided with aprojecting pin to engage said cam and operate said latch.

1S. In a binder the'combination of upper and lower strips movable to andfroml each other; two rack posts carried by one strip; two gears carriedby the other strip each meshing with a separate rack post and rotatablein a forward direction when the strips are pressed towards each other; areciprocating spring latch to engage the teeth of said gears and preventtheir rotation in a backward direction, said latch having a cam; and akey operated and axially mounted cylindrical cam piece provided with aprojecting pin to engage said cam and operate said latch.

19. In a binder the combination of upper and lower strips movable to andfrom each other; two rack posts carried by one strip; two gears carriedby the other strip meshingl together and each meshing with a separaterack post and rotatable in a forward direction when the strips arepressed towards each other; a reciprocating spring latch to engage theteeth of said gears and prevent their rotation in a backward direction;said latch having a cam; and a key operated and axially mountedcylindrical cam piece provided with a projectingr pin to engage, saidcam and operate said latch.

20. In a binder the combination of upper and lower strips movable to andfrom each other; a rack post carried by one strip; a gear carried by theother strip meshing with said rack post and rotatable in a forwarddirection when the strips are pressed towards each other; a

reciprocating spring latch to engage the teeth of said Agear and preventits rotation in a backward direction;

said latch having a cam; a key operated and axially mounted cylindricalcam piece provided with a projecting pin to engage said cam and operatesaid latch, said cam piece mounted on one strip approximately parallelwith said rack post and terminating adjacent the inner face of saidstrip; and said strip being provided with a: key hole in alinelnent withsaid cam piece.

21. In a binder the combination of upper and lower strips movable to andfrom each other; tworack posts carried by one strip; two gearscarried-by the other strip each meshing with a separate rack postandrotatable in a forward direction when the strips are pressed towardseach other; a reciprocating spring latch to engage the teeth of saidgears and prevent their rotation in a backward direction, said latchhaving a cam; a key operated and axially mounted cylindrical cam pieceprovided with a projecting pin to engage said cam and operate saidlatchy said cam piece mounted on one strip approximately parallel withsaid rack posts and terminating adjacent the inner face of said strip;and said strip being provided with a key hole in alinement with said campiece.

22. In a binder the combination of upper and lower strips movable to andfrom each other; two rack posts carried by one strip; two gears carriedby the other strip meshing together and each meshing with a separaterack post and rotatable in a forward direction when the strips arepressed towards each other; a reciprocating spring latch to engage theteeth of said gears and prevent their rotation in a backward direction;said latch having a cam; a key operated and axially mounted cylindricalcam piece provided with a projecting pin to engage said cam and operatesaid latch, said cam piece mounted on one strip approximately parallelwith said rack posts and terminating adjacent the inner face of saidstrip; and said strip being provided with a key hole in alinement withsaid cam piece.

23. In a binder the combination of upper and lower strips movable to andfrom each other; a rack post car ried by one strip; a gear carried bythe otherstrip meshing with said rack post and rotatable in a forwarddireetion when thestrips are pressed towards each other; a reciprocatingspring latch to engage the teeth of said gear and prevent its rotationin a backward direction; said latch having a cam; a key operated andaxially mounted cylindrical cam piece provided with a projecting pin toengage saidl cam and operate said latch, saidcam pieceA mounted on thestrip carrying the gear and terminating adjacent the inner face of saidstrip; and said strip being provided with a key hole in alinement withsaid cam piece.

24. In a binder the combination of 4upper and lower strips movable toand from each other; two rack posts carried by one' strip; two gearscarried'by the other strip meshing together and each meshing with aseparate rack post and rotatable in a forward direction when the stripsare pressed towards each other; a reciprocating spring latch to engagethe teeth of said gears and prevent their rotation in a backwarddirection; said latch having a cam; and a key operated and axiallymounted cylindrical cam piece provided with a projecting pin to engagesaid cam and operate said latch; said cam piece mounted on the stripcarrying the gears approximately parallel with the said rack-posts andterminating adjacent the inner face of said strip; and said strip beingprovided with a key hole in alinement with said cam piece.

25. In a binder the combination of upper and lower strips movable to andfrom each other; a rack post carried by one strip; a gear carried by theother strip meshing with said rack post and rotatable in a forwarddirection when the strips are pressed towards each other; areciprocating spring latch to engage the teeth of said gear and preventits rotation in a backward direction; said latch having a cam; and a keyoperated and axially mounted cylindrical cam piece provided with aprojecting pin to engage said cam and operate said latch, said cam piecemounted on one strip approximately parallel with said rack post andterminating adjacent the inner face of said strip; a thrust springbearing against the inner end of said cam piece to retard its rotation;and said strip being provided with a key hole in alinement with said campiece.

2G. In a binder the combination of upper and lower strips movable to andfrom each other; two rack posts carried by one strip; two gears carriedby the other strip meshing together and each meshing with a separaterack post and rotatable in a forward direction whenthe strips arepressed towards each other; a reciprocating spring latch to engage theteeth of said gears and prevent their rotation in a backward direction;said latch having a cam; and a key operated and axially mountedcylindrical cam piece provided with a projecting pin to engage said camand operate said latch; said cam piece mounted on the strip carrying thegears approximately parallel with the said rack-posts and terminatingadjacent the inner face of said strip; a thrust spring bearing againstthel inner end ot said cam piece to retard its rotation; and said stripbeing provided with a key hole in alinement with said cam piece.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our naines to this specification,in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT J. COPEI'IAND. ALBERT E. CIIATTERSON.

Witnesses FRANK 'lnnNnomL NICHOLAS M. Goonnn'r'r, Jr.

